In my work and my writing, I emphasize the importance of discovering exact base reality, whatever it may be, and then building from that reality. In getting one’s bearings – and trying to accomplish anything at all – it’s worse than useless to build on bad information: “garbage in, garbage out.” Why, for instance, have we Oregonians been so convinced that the Left is impenetrably monolithic, and that we must be oh-so-careful about discussing our own conservative and Christian beliefs?

Reality dictates otherwise.

Most of the rest of the United States has “gone red.” Throughout the primary campaign, I began my stump speeches with this fact. Audiences were surprised, and yet the evidence of this reality is right there for anyone to see. Too many grassroots Republicans have swallowed the assumption of a “permanent Blue Oregon” for no other reason than our own propensity for being intimidated. Per the 2018 election results, nationally:

There are twenty-three “Red Trifecta” states, and fourteen blue

The majority of our governors are Republicans

The majority of our state Senates are Republican controlled

The majority of our state Houses are Republican controlled

Republicans have solid control of the U.S Senate

The President is Republican

Under Donald Trump, the official federal government positioning now? Overseas, strength will replace appeasement. Nationally, a surging economy will replace economic malaise, and the rule of law will be paramount.

Obama’s “fundamental American transformation” of reduced freedom, anti-constitution rulings, and apology, is over.

Sanity has returned, and people all over the country, and now in Oregon, have noticed.

For the record, let’s consider the actual successes of the Trump administration: overseas, there is no more appeasement and apology. We are defending our manufacturers and workers via strong trade protective actions, the TPP is gone, and with Mexico and Canada, NAFTA has been renegotiated into the USMCA – a fair and equal trade deal that is very much more in our favor than it was (and, indeed, with this agreement, Mexico will pay for “The Wall” – many times over). Involvement in the Paris Climate Accord is no more, ISIS is essentially eliminated (remember, the horror of whole families dying together in vats of boiling oil and rows of men beheaded in unison?), NATO members are substantially increasing their contributions. North Korea’s official attitude has taken a 180 degree turn with nuclear facilities being dismantled, the Iran deal is terminated, and China and Russia are on notice with our non-apologetic sanctions, and the U.S. embassy is now in Jerusalem. Strict border security will be achieved soon too, despite the nonsensical caterwauling of the Left. And, in less than two years, a total of seventeen overseas hostages have been returned to the U.S. due to President Donald Trump’s personal involvement.

Nationally? The U.S. is now exporting more energy than any other nation, the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines are under construction, nonsensical regulation on business continues to be dramatically reduced, DACA has been halted, “net-neutrality,” is over. The Supreme Court is now a strong majority-constitutional/constructionist body. A new tax package lit the economic fuse with GDP growth now approaching 4%. Our overall unemployment is the lowest it has been in 49 years (the lowest ever for minorities), middle-class income is at an all-time high; Wall Street equity has increased by well over 10 Trillion dollars.

The lists go on and on. Incredible!

The point is this: the positive results noted above affect everyone, including Oregonians!

The misconception that Oregon is different is a result of an our own lack of attention, the mainstream media, and our chronic willingness to cave in to the demands of Ruling Class politicians.

Except for fringe crazies on the Left, regular Oregonians – no matter their party affiliation – live their lives in the same way everyone else in America lives their lives, and they want the same things, as I said, starting with safety and prosperity for their families.

The take-away? Be bold and proud, and be sure of yourself. Don’t hesitate to say what you believe. You are part of the conservative majority that includes significant numbers of Independents, unaffiliated, Libertarians and, these days, more than a few Democrats. Oregon is NOT different. We’ve just been intimidated into thinking it is.